Improvement in cradles



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

JACOB SPRENGARD, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN CRADLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB SPRENGARD, of Cincinnati, county of Hamilton,and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cradlesand Cribs, which improvement is fully set forth in the followingspecification and accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to aportable crib and cradle, which can bereadily changed from a cradle to a crib, and vice versa, by aconnecting-rod passing to the top of the bed-frame.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the crib, part of onepost and the end of the side rail which connects with it being brokenaway to show the connecting parts in section. Fig. 2 is a verticaltransverse section through the side rails in front of theconnecting-stretcher of the rail, showing the device for locking thecradle, so as to make a stationary crib; and Fig. 3 is a broken sectionof one of the end pieces, showing a modification of the lockin g device.

A is the rail; B, the post, and D a screw-bolt passing through the postand stretcher C, and having a thumb-nut on its inner end for drawing theparts together. a e are dowel-pins secpred in the rails; and, enteringthe posts, they steady the parts and relieve the bolts from strain. Theend stretchers C are turned with a suflicient bulge at their center,through which the bolt passes, to allow them to be dressed on a linewith the ends of the rail and make a joint with the posts.

As the devices which enable the crib to be readily set up and takenapart will form the subject of a separate application, a more particulardescription thereof is not necessary here.

The latches H, and pins on which they catch, and the devices forpermitting the cradle to rock and retain it in place, are the same asshown in my Patent No. 169,123, of October 26, 1875. The devices hereshown for locking the cradle are simplifications of the devices shownand claimed in that patent for accomplishing the same result.

F, Fig. 2, is a lever-arm secured to turn on a pin in one of the lowerend rails. G G are links connecting the lever to the latches H.

. By throwing the rod F down from the perpendicular, the latches arereleased from their pins and the crib changed to a cradle.

If desirable that the latches should move in opposite directions inlooking or unlocking, so as to avoid any danger of tilting or unlockingthe crib by leaning on one side of it, one of the links may be pivotedto the arm F above the fulcrum-pin in the rail; or the form shown inFig. 3 may be adopted. In this form the rod F is fitted to turn inscrew-rings g, which are driven into the upper and lower end rail. Ithas a handle at the top and a cross-head, f, at the bottom. A cordpasses through holes in each end of the cross-head, and has its endssecured to the latches. The cradle is locked by turning the handlearound so as to slacken the cords.

It is apparent that the rigid link G can also be used in this form bypivoting it to the bottom of the cross-head; but as the latches areswung at their top, and will drop of their own weight, the flexible cordis preferable.

It is also apparent that the latches H may be pivoted to the base, andhave their engaging pins in the rocker.

I claim- In combination with a cradle, the locking device composed oflever F, link G, latches H, and their engaging pins, said latches andpins being secured, the one to the rocker and the other to the base uponwhich the rocker rests, substantially as shown and described.

JACOB SPRENGARD.

Witnesses:

GEo. J. MURRAY, JOSEPH RINGEMANN.

